Bill Text: MN HF826 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Safe and supportive schools provided by prohibiting bullying.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-05-02 - Author added Clark [HF826 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF826-Engrossed.html
Bill Title: Safe and supportive schools provided by prohibiting bullying.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-05-02 - Author added Clark [HF826 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF826-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to education; providing for safe and supportive schools; authorizing
1.3rulemaking; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections
1.4120B.36, subdivision 1; 121A.55; 121A.69, subdivision 3; 122A.60, subdivisions
1.51a, 3; 124D.10, subdivision 8; 124D.895, subdivision 1; 124D.8955; 125B.15;
1.6127A.42, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
1.7chapters 121A; 127A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 121A.03;
1.8121A.0695.
1.9BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.10 Section 1. TITLE.
1.11This act may be cited as the "Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act."
1.12 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.13 Subdivision 1. School performance report cards. (a) The commissioner
1.14shall report student academic performance under section120B.35, subdivision 2 ; the
1.15percentages of students showing low, medium, and high growth under section120B.35,
1.16subdivision 3 , paragraph (b); school safety and student engagement and connection
1.17under section120B.35 , subdivision 3, paragraph (d); rigorous coursework under section
1.18120B.35, subdivision 3
, paragraph (c); two separate student-to-teacher ratios that clearly
1.19indicate the definition of teacher consistent with sections122A.06 and
122A.15 for
1.20purposes of determining these ratios; staff characteristics excluding salaries; student
1.21enrollment demographics; district mobility; summary data on incidents of student
1.22bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation and remedial responses to the
1.23incidents under section 121A.031, subdivision 4, clause (10); and extracurricular
1.24activities. The report also must indicate a school's adequate yearly progress status, and
1.25must not set any designations applicable to high- and low-performing schools due solely
2.1to adequate yearly progress status. The commissioner must use the summary data on
2.2prohibited conduct reported under section 121A.031, subdivision 4, clause (10), to inform
2.3the work of the school climate center under section 127A.052 and to assist districts and
2.4schools in improving the educational outcomes of all students and specific categories of
2.5students affected by such prohibited conduct.
2.6 (b) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and post on the department
2.7Web site school performance report cards.
2.8 (c) The commissioner must make available performance report cards by the
2.9beginning of each school year.
2.10 (d) A school or district may appeal its adequate yearly progress status in writing to
2.11the commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice of its status. The commissioner's
2.12decision to uphold or deny an appeal is final.
2.13 (e) School performance report card data are nonpublic data under section13.02,
2.14subdivision 9 , until the commissioner publicly releases the data. The commissioner shall
2.15annually post school performance report cards to the department's public Web site no later
2.16than September 1, except that in years when the report card reflects new performance
2.17standards, the commissioner shall post the school performance report cards no later than
2.18October 1.
2.19EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and
2.20later.
2.21 Sec. 3. [121A.031] SCHOOL POLICY TO PROVIDE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE
2.22SCHOOLS.
2.23 Subdivision 1. Local and state policy; scope and application. (a) This section
2.24applies to:
2.25(1) conduct on school premises, at school functions or activities, and on school
2.26transportation;
2.27(2) use of electronic technology and communications on school premises, during
2.28school functions or activities, on school transportation, and on school computers,
2.29networks, forums, and mailing lists; and
2.30(3) use of electronic technology and communications off school premises to the
2.31extent such use is reasonably foreseeable to substantially and materially disrupt student
2.32learning or the school environment.
2.33(b) This section applies to school districts as defined in section 121A.41, subdivision
2.343, and schools as defined in section 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, 13, and 17, and in
2.35123B.41, subdivision 9, if the school, other than a home school, receives public funds or
3.1other public resources. This act does not apply to a home school under sections 120A.22,
3.2subdivision 4, and 120A.24.
3.3 Subd. 2. Local district and school policy. (a) Districts and schools, in consultation
3.4with students, parents, and community organizations, shall adopt, implement, and annually
3.5review, and revise where appropriate, a written policy to prevent and prohibit student
3.6bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, consistent with this section. The
3.7policy must conform with sections 121A.41 to 121A.56. A district or school must adopt
3.8and implement a local policy under subdivisions 2 to 5 or comply with the provisions of
3.9the state model policy in subdivision 6.
3.10(b) Each local district and school policy must establish research-based,
3.11developmentally appropriate best practices that include preventive and remedial measures
3.12and effective discipline for deterring policy violations; apply throughout the school
3.13community; and foster active student, parent, and community participation. A district or
3.14school may request assistance from the school climate center under section 127A.052 in
3.15complying with local policy requirements. The policy shall:
3.16(1) apply to all students, school personnel, and volunteers;
3.17(2) specifically list the characteristics contained in the definition of prohibited
3.18conduct under subdivision 3, paragraph (f);
3.19(3) emphasize remedial responses over punitive measures;
3.20(4) be conspicuously posted throughout the school building;
3.21(5) be given to each school employee and independent contractor at the time of
3.22employment with the district or school;
3.23(6) be included in the student handbook on school policies; and
3.24(7) be available to all parents and other school community members in accessible
3.25languages and format on the district or school Web site.
3.26 (c) Each district and school under this subdivision must discuss its policy with
3.27students, school personnel, and volunteers and provide training for all school personnel
3.28and volunteers to prevent, identify, and appropriately respond to prohibited conduct.
3.29 (d) Each district and school under this subdivision must submit an electronic copy
3.30of its bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation policy to the commissioner
3.31for review.
3.32 Subd. 3. Definitions. (a) The terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings
3.33given them for purposes of this act.
3.34(b) "Bullying" means use of one or a series of words, images, or actions, directly or
3.35indirectly between individuals or through technology, that a reasonable person knows or
3.36should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of materially interfering with
4.1the ability of an individual, including a student who observes the conduct, to participate
4.2in a safe and supportive learning environment. Examples of bullying may include, but
4.3are not limited to, conduct that:
4.4(1) places an individual in reasonable fear of harm to person or property, including
4.5through intimidation;
4.6(2) has a detrimental effect on the physical, social, or emotional health of a student;
4.7(3) interferes with a student's educational performance or ability to participate in
4.8educational opportunities;
4.9(4) encourages the deliberate exclusion of a student from a school service, activity,
4.10or privilege;
4.11(5) creates or exacerbates a real or perceived imbalance of power between students;
4.12(6) violates the reasonable expectation of privacy of one or more individuals; or
4.13(7) relates to the actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national
4.14origin, immigration status, sex, age, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status,
4.15physical appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, academic status,
4.16disability, or status with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic
4.17defined in chapter 363A of a person or of a person with whom that person associates, but
4.18the conduct does not rise to the level of harassment.
4.19(c) "Cyberbullying" means bullying through use of technology or any electronic
4.20communication, including, but not limited to, a transfer of signs, signals, writing, images,
4.21sounds, or data, including a post on a social network Internet Web site or forum transmitted
4.22through a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device.
4.23(d) "Harassment" means intimidating or abusive behavior toward an individual based
4.24on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration
4.25status, sex, age, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status, physical appearance,
4.26sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, academic status, disability, or status
4.27with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic defined in chapter
4.28363A that creates a hostile environment by materially interfering with or denying a student
4.29or other individual the ability to participate in or receive a benefit, service, or opportunity
4.30in a district or school program. Harassing conduct is unwelcome if the person does not
4.31request or invite it and considers the conduct to be undesirable or offensive.
4.32(e) "Intimidation" means a method used to bully or harass an individual.
4.33(f) "Prohibited conduct" means bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation
4.34as defined under this subdivision, retaliation for asserting or alleging such conduct,
4.35perpetuating such conduct by transmitting or otherwise communicating hurtful or
4.36demeaning material, or engaging in speech that will materially disrupt a student's learning
5.1environment. Prohibited conduct includes discriminatory conduct based on a person's
5.2actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration
5.3status, sex, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status, physical appearance,
5.4sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, academic status, disability, or status
5.5with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic defined in chapter
5.6363A, as well as association with a person or group of persons with one or more of these
5.7actual or perceived characteristics; however, prohibited conduct need not be based on any
5.8particular characteristic defined in this paragraph or chapter 363A. Each district and
5.9school must list in their policy the characteristics identified in this paragraph.
5.10(g) "Remedial response" means a measure to stop and correct prohibited conduct,
5.11prevent prohibited conduct from recurring, and protect, support, and intervene on behalf
5.12of the student who is the target of the prohibited conduct. Districts and schools may
5.13seek the assistance of the school climate center under section 127A.052 to develop and
5.14implement remedial responses on behalf of a student who is the target of prohibited
5.15conduct, to stop and correct a student engaging in prohibited conduct, and for use with
5.16students and adults in the school community. Districts and schools need not report the
5.17use of remedial responses when their use is unrelated to any particular incident of student
5.18bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation.
5.19 Subd. 4. Local policy components. (a) Each district and school policy, in
5.20prohibiting bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation against all students and
5.21specific categories of students based on actual or perceived characteristics listed under
5.22subdivision 3, paragraph (f), must, at a minimum:
5.23(1) designate a staff member as the primary contact person in the school building to
5.24receive reports of all formal complaints, ensure the policy and its procedures including
5.25restorative practices, consequences, and sanctions are fairly and fully implemented, and
5.26serve as the primary contact on policy and procedural matters implicating both the district
5.27or school and the department;
5.28(2) require school employees and trained volunteers who witness bullying,
5.29cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation incidents or possess reliable information
5.30that would lead to a reasonable person to suspect that a student is a target of bullying,
5.31cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation to make reasonable efforts to address and
5.32resolve the prohibited conduct to the extent it does not materially disrupt the education
5.33process;
5.34(3) where prohibited conduct appears to materially disrupt the education process,
5.35provide a procedure to promptly investigate a bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or
5.36intimidation report within three school days of the report, and make the primary contact
6.1person responsible for the investigation and any resulting record and for keeping and
6.2regulating access to any record;
6.3(4) indicate how a school will respond to an identified incident of bullying,
6.4cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation, including immediately intervening to protect
6.5the target of the prohibited conduct; at the school administrator's discretion and consistent
6.6with state and federal data practices law governing access to private data, notifying the
6.7parent of the reported target of the prohibited conduct, the parent of the actor engaged in
6.8the prohibited conduct, or law enforcement officials; providing other remedial responses
6.9to the prohibited conduct; and ensuring that remedial responses are tailored to the
6.10particular incident and nature of the conduct and the student's developmental age and
6.11behavioral history;
6.12(5) prohibit reprisals or retaliation against any person who reports bullying,
6.13cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation and establish appropriate consequences for a
6.14person who engages in reprisal or retaliation;
6.15(6) allow anonymous reporting but do not rely solely on an anonymous report to
6.16determine discipline;
6.17(7) provide information about available community resources to the target, actor,
6.18and other affected individuals, as appropriate;
6.19(8) where appropriate for a child with a disability to prevent or respond to prohibited
6.20conduct, require the child's individualized education program or section 504 plan to
6.21address the skills and proficiencies the child needs to respond to or not engage in
6.22prohibited conduct;
6.23(9) use new employee training materials, the school publication on school rules,
6.24procedures, and standards of conduct, and the student handbook on school policies
6.25to publicize the policy;
6.26(10) require annual reporting, collection, and analysis of summary data on incidents
6.27of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation and on remedial responses both
6.28to individuals and throughout the school; and
6.29(11) require ongoing professional development, consistent with section 122A.60,
6.30to build the skills of all school personnel and volunteers, including, but not limited to,
6.31educators, administrators, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, athletic
6.32coaches, extracurricular activities advisors, volunteers, and paraprofessionals to identify,
6.33prevent, and appropriately address bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation.
6.34(b) Professional development under a local policy includes, but is not limited to,
6.35information about:
7.1(1) developmentally appropriate strategies both to prevent and to immediately and
7.2effectively intervene to stop bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation;
7.3(2) the complex dynamics affecting an actor, target, and witnesses to bullying,
7.4cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation;
7.5(3) research on bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, including
7.6specific categories of students at risk for bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and
7.7intimidation in school;
7.8(4) the incidence and nature of cyberbullying; and
7.9(5) Internet safety and cyberbullying.
7.10 Subd. 5. Safe and supportive schools programming. (a) Districts and schools
7.11are encouraged to provide developmentally appropriate programmatic instruction to
7.12help students identify, prevent, and reduce bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and
7.13intimidation; value diversity in school and society; develop and improve students'
7.14knowledge and skills for solving problems, managing conflict, engaging in civil discourse,
7.15and recognizing, responding to, and reporting prohibited conduct; and make effective
7.16prevention and intervention programs available to students, school personnel, and parents.
7.17Upon request, the school climate center under section 127A.052 must assist a district
7.18or school in helping students understand social media and cyberbullying. Districts
7.19and schools must establish strategies for creating a positive school climate and use
7.20evidence-based social-emotional learning to prevent and reduce discrimination and other
7.21prohibited conduct.
7.22(b) Districts and schools are encouraged to:
7.23(1) engage all students in creating a safe and supportive school environment;
7.24(2) partner with parents and other community members to develop and implement
7.25prevention and intervention programs;
7.26(3) engage all students and adults in integrating education, intervention, and other
7.27remedial responses into the school environment;
7.28(4) train student bystanders to intervene in and report incidents of prohibited conduct
7.29to the school's primary contact person;
7.30(5) teach students to advocate for themselves and others;
7.31(6) prevent inappropriate referrals to special education of students who may engage
7.32in prohibited conduct; and
7.33(7) foster student collaborations that support a healthy and safe school climate.
7.34 Subd. 6. State model policy. (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the
7.35commissioner of human rights, shall develop and maintain a state model policy. A district
7.36or school that does not adopt and implement a local policy under subdivisions 2 to 5
8.1must implement and may supplement the provisions of the state model policy. The
8.2commissioner must assist districts and schools under this subdivision to implement the
8.3state policy. The state model policy must:
8.4(1) define bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, consistent with
8.5this section;
8.6(2) apply the bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation policy
8.7components in this section;
8.8(3) for a child with a disability, whenever an evaluation by an individualized
8.9education program team or a section 504 team indicates that the child's disability affects
8.10the child's social skills development or the child is vulnerable to bullying, cyberbullying,
8.11harassment, or intimidation because of the child's disability, the child's individualized
8.12education program or section 504 plan must address the skills and proficiencies the child
8.13needs to avoid and respond to such conduct; and
8.14(4) encourage violence prevention and character development education programs
8.15under section 120B.232, subdivision 1.
8.16(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this section.
8.17(c) The commissioner shall develop and post departmental procedures for:
8.18(1) periodically reviewing district and school programs and policies for compliance
8.19with this section;
8.20(2) investigating, reporting, and responding to noncompliance with this section,
8.21which may include an annual review of plans to improve and provide a safe and supportive
8.22school climate;
8.23(3) allowing students, parents, and educators to file a complaint about noncompliance
8.24with the commissioner; and
8.25(4) annually publishing statewide summary data on incidents of bullying,
8.26cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, consistent with section 120B.36, subdivision
8.271.
8.28 (d) Department records under this subdivision are private data on individuals. An
8.29individual subject of the data shall have access to the data except that the name of a
8.30reporter is confidential.
8.31 (e) The commissioner must post on the department's Web site information indicating
8.32that when districts and schools allow noncurriculum-related student groups access to
8.33school facilities, the district or school must give all student groups equal access to the
8.34school facilities regardless of the content of the group members' speech.
8.35 Subd. 7. Relation to existing law. This section does not:
8.36(1) establish any private right of action;
9.1(2) limit rights currently available to an individual under other civil or criminal law,
9.2including, but not limited to, chapter 363A; or
9.3(3) interfere with a person's rights of free speech and expression under the First
9.4Amendment of the Unites States Constitution.
9.5EFFECTIVE DATE.Subdivision 6, paragraph (b), is effective the day following
9.6final enactment; the remainder of this section applies beginning July 1, 2014.
9.7 Sec. 4. [121A.0315] SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL GRANTS.
9.8 Subdivision 1. Grant program established. The commissioner of education, after
9.9consulting with the commissioners of human rights, human services, and health, shall
9.10establish a safe and supportive schools grant program to enable a school district or school
9.11to implement the requirements in section 121A.031 and foster academic achievement.
9.12All districts and schools participating under section 121A.031 are eligible to apply for a
9.13grant under this section.
9.14 Subd. 2. Grant application. To be eligible to receive a grant, a district or school
9.15must submit an application to the commissioner in the form and manner and according
9.16to the timeline established by the commissioner. The application must describe how
9.17the applicant will create and maintain a safe and supportive school environment and
9.18foster academic achievement given the characteristics and circumstances of its students,
9.19their families, and the school community. The commissioner may require additional
9.20information from the applicant. When reviewing the applications, the commissioner
9.21must determine whether the applicant met the requirements of this section and is able to
9.22meet the requirements of section 121A.031.
9.23 Subd. 3. Grant awards. The commissioner may award grants to eligible applicants
9.24for creating and maintaining a safe and supportive school environment and fostering
9.25academic achievement. Grant amounts may not exceed $....... per resident pupil unit in the
9.26district or school in the prior school year. Grant recipients should be located throughout
9.27the state.
9.28 Subd. 4. Grant proceeds. A grant recipient must use grant funds to create and
9.29maintain a safe and supportive school environment and foster academic achievement
9.30according to the terms of its grant application.
9.31EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for fiscal year 2014 and later.
9.32 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 121A.55, is amended to read:
9.33121A.55 POLICIES TO BE ESTABLISHED.
10.1(a) The commissioner of education shall promulgate guidelines to assist each school
10.2board. Each school board shall to establish uniform criteria for dismissal and adopt
10.3written policies and rules to effectuatethe purposes of sections 121A.031 and
121A.40 to
10.4121A.56
. The policies shall emphasize preventing dismissals through early detection of
10.5problems andshall be designed to address prevent students' inappropriate behavior from
10.6recurring. The policies shall recognize the continuing responsibility of the schoolfor the
10.7education of to educate the pupil during the dismissal period. The alternative educational
10.8services, if the pupil wishes to take advantage of them, must be adequate to allow the
10.9pupil to make progress towards meeting the graduation standards adopted under section
10.10120B.02
and help prepare the pupil for readmission.
10.11(b) An area learning center under section123A.05 may not prohibit an expelled or
10.12excluded pupil from enrolling solely because a district expelled or excluded the pupil. The
10.13board of the area learning center may use the provisions of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act to
10.14exclude a pupil or to require an admission plan.
10.15(c) Each school district shall develop a policy and report it to the commissioner on
10.16the appropriate use of peace officers and crisis teams to remove students who have an
10.17individualized education program from school grounds.
10.18EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
10.19 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 121A.69, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
10.20 Subd. 3. School board policy. Each school board shall adopt a written policy
10.21governing student or staff hazing. The policy must apply to student behavior that occurs
10.22on or off school property and during and after school hours and be consistent with section
10.23121A.031. The policy must include reporting procedures and disciplinary consequences
10.24for violating the policy. Disciplinary consequences must be sufficiently severe to deter
10.25violations and appropriately discipline prohibited behavior. Disciplinary consequences
10.26must conform with sections 121A.031 and121A.41 to
121A.56 . Each school must include
10.27the policy in the student handbook on school policies.
10.28EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
10.29 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.60, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
10.30 Subd. 1a. Effective staff development activities. (a) Staff development activities
10.31must:
10.32(1) focus on the school classroom and research-based strategies that improve student
10.33learning;
11.1(2) provide opportunities for teachers to practice and improve their instructional
11.2skills over time;
11.3(3) provide opportunities for teachers to use student data as part of their daily work
11.4to increase student achievement;
11.5(4) enhance teacher content knowledge and instructional skills, including to
11.6accommodate the delivery of digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage
11.7students with technology;
11.8(5) align with state and local academic standards;
11.9(6) provide opportunities to build professional relationships, foster collaboration
11.10among principals and staff who provide instruction, and provide opportunities for
11.11teacher-to-teacher mentoring; and
11.12(7) align with the plan of the district or site for an alternative teacher professional
11.13pay system.
11.14Staff development activities may include curriculum development and curriculum training
11.15programs, and activities that provide teachers and other members of site-based teams
11.16training to enhance team performance. The school district also may implement other
11.17staff development activities required by law and activities associated with professional
11.18teacher compensation models.
11.19(b) Release time provided for teachers to supervise students on field trips and school
11.20activities, or independent tasks not associated with enhancing the teacher's knowledge
11.21and instructional skills, such as preparing report cards, calculating grades, or organizing
11.22classroom materials, may not be counted as staff development time that is financed with
11.23staff development reserved revenue under section122A.61 .
11.24(c) Staff development activities also may include training for school counselors,
11.25social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals to support students,
11.26teachers, and school administrators in implementing restorative and reparative best
11.27practices to prevent and appropriately address student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment,
11.28and intimidation, consistent with section 121A.031, subdivision 4, paragraph (b).
11.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and
11.30later.
11.31 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.60, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
11.32 Subd. 3. Staff development outcomes. The advisory staff development committee
11.33must adopt a staff development plan for improving student achievement. The plan must
11.34be consistent with education outcomes that the school board determines. The plan
12.1must include ongoing staff development activities that contribute toward continuous
12.2improvement in achievement of the following goals:
12.3(1) improve student achievement of state and local education standards in all areas
12.4of the curriculum by using best practices methods;
12.5(2) effectively meet the needs of a diverse student population, including at-risk
12.6children, children with disabilities, and gifted children, within the regular classroom
12.7and other settings;
12.8(3) provide an inclusive curriculum for a racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse
12.9student population that is consistent with the state education diversity rule and the district's
12.10education diversity plan;
12.11(4) improve staff collaboration and develop mentoring and peer coaching programs
12.12for teachers new to the school or district;
12.13(5) effectively teach and model violence prevention policy and curriculum that
12.14address early intervention alternatives,issues of harassment, annually train all school
12.15staff and school volunteers who regularly interact with students in best practices to
12.16create and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment, consistent with section
12.17121A.031, and teach nonviolent alternatives for conflict resolution, including restorative
12.18and reparative processes;
12.19(6) effectively deliver digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage
12.20students with technology; and
12.21(7) provide teachers and other members of site-based management teams with
12.22appropriate management and financial management skills.
12.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and
12.24later.
12.25 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.10, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
12.26 Subd. 8. Federal, state, and local requirements. (a) A charter school shall meet all
12.27federal, state, and local health and safety requirements applicable to school districts.
12.28 (b) A school must comply with statewide accountability requirements governing
12.29standards and assessments in chapter 120B.
12.30 (c) A school authorized by a school board may be located in any district, unless the
12.31school board of the district of the proposed location disapproves by written resolution.
12.32 (d) A charter school must be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies,
12.33employment practices, and all other operations. An authorizer may not authorize a charter
12.34school or program that is affiliated with a nonpublic sectarian school or a religious
13.1institution. A charter school student must be released for religious instruction, consistent
13.2with section120A.22, subdivision 12 , clause (3).
13.3 (e) Charter schools must not be used as a method of providing education or
13.4generating revenue for students who are being home-schooled. This paragraph does not
13.5apply to shared time aid under section126C.19 .
13.6 (f) The primary focus of a charter school must be to provide a comprehensive
13.7program of instruction for at least one grade or age group from five through 18 years
13.8of age. Instruction may be provided to people younger than five years and older than
13.918 years of age.
13.10 (g) A charter school may not charge tuition.
13.11 (h) A charter school is subject to and must comply with chapter 363A and section
13.12121A.04
.
13.13 (i) A charter school is subject to and must comply with the Pupil Fair Dismissal
13.14Act, sections121A.40 to
121A.56 , and the Minnesota Public School Fee Law, sections
13.15123B.34
to
123B.39 .
13.16 (j) A charter school is subject to the same financial audits, audit procedures, and
13.17audit requirements as a district. Audits must be conducted in compliance with generally
13.18accepted governmental auditing standards, the federal Single Audit Act, if applicable,
13.19and section6.65 . A charter school is subject to and must comply with sections
15.054 ;
13.20118A.01
;
118A.02 ;
118A.03 ;
118A.04 ;
118A.05 ;
118A.06 ;
471.38 ;
471.391 ;
471.392 ; and
13.21471.425
. The audit must comply with the requirements of sections
123B.75 to
123B.83 ,
13.22except to the extent deviations are necessary because of the program at the school.
13.23Deviations must be approved by the commissioner and authorizer. The Department of
13.24Education, state auditor, legislative auditor, or authorizer may conduct financial, program,
13.25or compliance audits. A charter school determined to be in statutory operating debt under
13.26sections123B.81 to
123B.83 must submit a plan under section
123B.81, subdivision 4 .
13.27 (k) A charter school is a district for the purposes of tort liability under chapter 466.
13.28 (l) A charter school must comply with chapters 13 and 13D; and sections120A.22,
13.29subdivision 7 ;
121A.75 ; and
260B.171 , subdivisions 3 and 5.
13.30 (m) A charter school is subject to the Pledge of Allegiance requirement under
13.31section121A.11, subdivision 3 .
13.32 (n) A charter school offering online courses or programs must comply with section
13.33124D.095
.
13.34 (o) A charter school and charter school board of directors are subject to chapter 181.
14.1 (p) A charter school must comply with section120A.22, subdivision 7 , governing
14.2the transfer of students' educational records and sections138.163 and
138.17 governing
14.3the management of local records.
14.4 (q) A charter school that provides early childhood health and developmental
14.5screening must comply with sections121A.16 to
121A.19 .
14.6(r) A charter school that provides school-sponsored youth athletic activities must
14.7comply with section 121A.38.
14.8(s) A charter school must comply with section 121A.031 governing policies on
14.9student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation.
14.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
14.11 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.895, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
14.12 Subdivision 1. Program goals. The department, in consultation with the state
14.13curriculum advisory committee, must develop guidelines and model plans for parental
14.14involvement programs that will:
14.15(1) engage the interests and talents of parents or guardians in recognizing and
14.16meeting the emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of their school-age children;
14.17(2) promote healthy self-concepts among parents or guardians and other family
14.18members;
14.19(3) offer parents or guardians a chance to share and learn about educational skills,
14.20techniques, and ideas;
14.21(4) provide creative learning experiences for parents or guardians and their
14.22school-age children, including involvement from parents or guardians of color;
14.23(5) encourage parents to actively participate in their district's curriculum advisory
14.24committee under section120B.11 in order to assist the school board in improving
14.25children's education programs;and
14.26(6) encourage parents to help in promoting school desegregation/integration; and
14.27(7) partner with parents in establishing a positive school climate by developing and
14.28implementing prevention and intervention programs on student bullying, cyberbullying,
14.29harassment, and intimidation under section 121A.031.
14.30EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
14.31 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.8955, is amended to read:
14.32124D.8955 PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT POLICY.
15.1 (a) In order to promote and support student achievement, a local school board is
15.2encouraged to formally adopt and implement a parent and family involvement policy that
15.3promotes and supports:
15.4 (1) communication between home and school that is regular, two-way, and
15.5meaningful;
15.6 (2) parenting skills;
15.7 (3) parents and caregivers who play an integral role in assisting student learning and
15.8learn about fostering students' academic success and learning at home and school;
15.9 (4) welcoming parents in the school and seeking their support and assistance;
15.10 (5) partnerships with parents in the decisions that affect children and families
15.11in the schools; and
15.12 (6) providing community resources to strengthen schools, families, and student
15.13learning, including establishing a positive school climate by developing and implementing
15.14prevention and intervention programs on student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment,
15.15and intimidation under section 121A.031.
15.16 (b) A school board that implements a parent and family involvement policy under
15.17paragraph (a) must convene an advisory committee composed of an equal number of
15.18resident parents who are not district employees and school staff to make recommendations
15.19to the board on developing and evaluating the board's parent and family involvement
15.20policy. If possible, the advisory committee must represent the diversity of the district. The
15.21advisory committee must consider the district's demographic diversity and barriers to
15.22parent involvement when developing its recommendations. The advisory committee must
15.23recommend to the school board and district or school how programs serving children and
15.24adolescents can collaborate on:
15.25(1) understanding normal child and adolescent development;
15.26(2) encouraging healthy communication between parents and children;
15.27(3) managing students' behavior through positive reinforcement;
15.28(4) establishing expectations for student behavior;
15.29(5) providing media and Internet guidance, limits, and supervision; and
15.30(6) promoting resilience and reducing risks for children.
15.31The advisory committee must present its recommendations to the board for board
15.32consideration.
15.33 (c) The board must consider best practices when implementing this policy.
15.34 (d) The board periodically must review this policy to determine whether it is aligned
15.35with the most current research findings on parent involvement policies and practices and
15.36how effective the policy is in supporting increased student achievement.
16.1 (e) Nothing in this section obligates a school district to exceed any parent or family
16.2involvement requirement under federal law.
16.3EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
16.4 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 125B.15, is amended to read:
16.5125B.15 INTERNET ACCESS FOR STUDENTS.
16.6 (a) Recognizing the difference between school libraries, school computer labs, and
16.7school media centers, which serve unique educational purposes, and public libraries,
16.8which are designed for public inquiry, all computers at a school site with access to the
16.9Internet available for student use must be equipped to restrict, including by use of
16.10available software filtering technology or other effective methods, all student access
16.11to material that is reasonably believed to be obscene or child pornography or material
16.12harmful to minors under federal or state law.
16.13 (b) A school site is not required to purchase filtering technology if the school site
16.14would incur more than incidental expense in making the purchase.
16.15 (c) A school district receiving technology revenue under section125B.26 must
16.16prohibit, including through use of available software filtering technology or other effective
16.17methods, adult access to material that under federal or state law is reasonably believed to
16.18be obscene or child pornography.
16.19 (d) A school district, its agents or employees, are immune from liability for failure
16.20to comply with this section if they have made a good faith effort to comply with the
16.21requirements of this section.
16.22 (e) "School site" means an education site as defined in section123B.04, subdivision
16.231 , or charter school under section
124D.10 .
16.24 (f) All school sites having computers with Internet access must adopt and implement
16.25a policy to prohibit cyberbullying, consistent with section 121A.031.
16.26EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and
16.27later.
16.28 Sec. 13. [127A.051] SCHOOL CLIMATE COUNCIL.
16.29 Subdivision 1. Establishment and membership. (a) A multiagency leadership
16.30council is established to improve school climate and school safety so that all Minnesota
16.31students in prekindergarten through grade 12 schools and higher education institutions
16.32are provided with safe and welcoming learning environments in order to maximize each
16.33student's learning potential.
17.1(b) The council shall consist of:
17.2(1) the commissioners or their designees from the Departments of Education,
17.3Health, Human Rights, Human Services, Public Safety, and Corrections, and the Office of
17.4Higher Education;
17.5(2) one representative each from the Board of Teaching, Board of School
17.6Administrators, Minnesota School Boards Association, Elementary School Principals
17.7Association, Association of Secondary School Principals, and Education Minnesota as
17.8selected by each organization;
17.9(3) two representatives each of student support personnel, parents, and students as
17.10selected by the commissioner of education;
17.11(4) two representatives of local law enforcement as selected by the commissioner of
17.12public safety; and
17.13(5) two representatives of the judicial branch as selected by the chief justice of
17.14the Supreme Court.
17.15 Subd. 2. Duties. The council must provide leadership for the following activities:
17.16(1) establishment of norms and standards for prevention, intervention, and support
17.17around issues of bullying, harassment, and intimidation;
17.18(2) advancement of evidence-based policy and best practices to improve school
17.19climate and promote school safety; and
17.20(3) development and dissemination of resources and training for schools and
17.21communities about issues of bullying, harassment, and intimidation and other school
17.22safety-related issues.
17.23 Sec. 14. [127A.052] SCHOOL CLIMATE CENTER.
17.24(a) The commissioner shall establish a school climate center at the department to
17.25help districts and schools under section 121A.031 provide a safe and supportive learning
17.26environment and foster academic achievement for all students by focusing on prevention,
17.27intervention, support, and recovery. The center must work collaboratively with implicated
17.28state agencies identified by the center and schools, communities, and interested individuals
17.29and organizations to determine how to best use available resources.
17.30(b) The center's services shall include:
17.31(1) evidence-based policy review, development, and dissemination;
17.32(2) single, point-of-contact services for schools, parents, and students seeking
17.33information or other help;
18.1(3) qualitative and quantitative data gathering, interpretation, and dissemination of
18.2summary data for existing reporting systems and student surveys and the identification
18.3and pursuit of emerging trends and issues;
18.4(4) assistance to districts and schools in using Minnesota student survey results to
18.5inform intervention and prevention programs;
18.6(5) education and skill building;
18.7(6) multisector and multiagency planning and advisory activities incorporating
18.8best practices and research; and
18.9(7) administrative and financial support for school site-based planning, school sites
18.10recovering from incidents of violence, and violence prevention education.
18.11(c) The center shall:
18.12(1) compile and make available to all districts and schools evidence-based elements
18.13and resources to develop and maintain safe and supportive schools;
18.14(2) establish and maintain a central repository for collecting and analyzing
18.15information about bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, including, but
18.16not limited to:
18.17(i) training materials on strategies and techniques to prevent and appropriately
18.18address prohibited conduct;
18.19(ii) model programming;
18.20(iii) remedial responses consistent with section 121A.031, subdivision 3, paragraph
18.21(g); and
18.22(iv) other resources for improving the school climate and preventing bullying,
18.23cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation;
18.24(3) assist districts and schools to develop strategies and techniques for effectively
18.25communicating with and engaging parents in efforts to protect students from bullying,
18.26cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation by other students and adults; and
18.27(4) solicit input from social media experts on implementing this section.
18.28(d) The commissioner shall provide administrative services including personnel,
18.29budget, payroll and contract services, and staff support for center activities including
18.30developing and disseminating materials, providing seminars, and developing and
18.31maintaining a Web site. Center staff shall include a center director, a data analyst
18.32coordinator, and trainers who provide training to affected state and local organizations
18.33under a fee-for-service agreement. The financial, administrative, and staff support the
18.34commissioner provides under this section must be based on an annual budget and work
18.35program developed by the center and submitted to the commissioner by the center director.
18.36EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective beginning July 1, 2013.
19.1 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 127A.42, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
19.2 Subd. 2. Violations of law. The commissioner may reduce or withhold the district's
19.3state aid for any school year whenever the board of the district authorizes or permits
19.4violations of law within the district by:
19.5(1) employing a teacher who does not hold a valid teaching license or permit in a
19.6public school;
19.7(2) noncompliance with a mandatory rule of general application promulgated by the
19.8commissioner in accordance with statute, unless special circumstances make enforcement
19.9inequitable, impose an extraordinary hardship on the district, or the rule is contrary to
19.10the district's best interests;
19.11(3) the district's continued performance of a contract made for the rental of rooms
19.12or buildings for school purposes or for the rental of any facility owned or operated by or
19.13under the direction of any private organization, if the contract has been disapproved, the
19.14time for review of the determination of disapproval has expired, and no proceeding for
19.15review is pending;
19.16(4) any practice which is a violation of sections 1 and 2 of article 13 of the
19.17Constitution of the state of Minnesota;
19.18(5) failure to reasonably provide for a resident pupil's school attendance under
19.19Minnesota Statutes;
19.20(6) noncompliance with state laws prohibiting discrimination because of race,
19.21color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to
19.22public assistanceor, disability, as defined in sections
363A.08 to
363A.19 and
363A.28,
19.23subdivision 10 , or with state law prohibiting student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment,
19.24and intimidation under section 121A.031; or
19.25(7) using funds contrary to the statutory purpose of the funds.
19.26The reduction or withholding must be made in the amount and upon the procedure
19.27provided in this section, or, in the case of the violation stated in clause (1), upon the
19.28procedure provided in section127A.43 .
19.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
19.30 Sec. 16. APPROPRIATIONS.
19.31(a) $....... in fiscal year 2014 and $....... in fiscal year 2015 are appropriated from
19.32the general fund to the commissioner of education for the school climate center under
19.33Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.052.
20.1(b) $....... in fiscal year 2014 and $....... in fiscal year 2015 are appropriated from
20.2the general fund to the commissioner of education for grants to districts and schools to
20.3provide safe and supportive learning environments and foster academic achievement for
20.4all students under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.0315.
20.5EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2013.
20.6 Sec. 17. REPEALER.
20.7Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 121A.03; and 121A.0695, are repealed effective
20.8July 1, 2014.
1.3rulemaking; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections
1.4120B.36, subdivision 1; 121A.55; 121A.69, subdivision 3; 122A.60, subdivisions
1.51a, 3; 124D.10, subdivision 8; 124D.895, subdivision 1; 124D.8955; 125B.15;
1.6127A.42, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
1.7chapters 121A; 127A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 121A.03;
1.8121A.0695.
1.9BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.10 Section 1. TITLE.
1.11This act may be cited as the "Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act."
1.12 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.13 Subdivision 1. School performance report cards. (a) The commissioner
1.14shall report student academic performance under section
1.15percentages of students showing low, medium, and high growth under section
1.16subdivision 3
1.17under section
1.19indicate the definition of teacher consistent with sections
1.20purposes of determining these ratios; staff characteristics excluding salaries; student
1.21enrollment demographics; district mobility; summary data on incidents of student
1.22bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation and remedial responses to the
1.23incidents under section 121A.031, subdivision 4, clause (10); and extracurricular
1.24activities. The report also must indicate a school's adequate yearly progress status, and
1.25must not set any designations applicable to high- and low-performing schools due solely
2.1to adequate yearly progress status. The commissioner must use the summary data on
2.2prohibited conduct reported under section 121A.031, subdivision 4, clause (10), to inform
2.3the work of the school climate center under section 127A.052 and to assist districts and
2.4schools in improving the educational outcomes of all students and specific categories of
2.5students affected by such prohibited conduct.
2.6 (b) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and post on the department
2.7Web site school performance report cards.
2.8 (c) The commissioner must make available performance report cards by the
2.9beginning of each school year.
2.10 (d) A school or district may appeal its adequate yearly progress status in writing to
2.11the commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice of its status. The commissioner's
2.12decision to uphold or deny an appeal is final.
2.13 (e) School performance report card data are nonpublic data under section
2.14subdivision 9
2.15annually post school performance report cards to the department's public Web site no later
2.16than September 1, except that in years when the report card reflects new performance
2.17standards, the commissioner shall post the school performance report cards no later than
2.18October 1.
2.19EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and
2.20later.
2.21 Sec. 3. [121A.031] SCHOOL POLICY TO PROVIDE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE
2.22SCHOOLS.
2.23 Subdivision 1. Local and state policy; scope and application. (a) This section
2.24applies to:
2.25(1) conduct on school premises, at school functions or activities, and on school
2.26transportation;
2.27(2) use of electronic technology and communications on school premises, during
2.28school functions or activities, on school transportation, and on school computers,
2.29networks, forums, and mailing lists; and
2.30(3) use of electronic technology and communications off school premises to the
2.31extent such use is reasonably foreseeable to substantially and materially disrupt student
2.32learning or the school environment.
2.33(b) This section applies to school districts as defined in section 121A.41, subdivision
2.343, and schools as defined in section 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, 13, and 17, and in
2.35123B.41, subdivision 9, if the school, other than a home school, receives public funds or
3.1other public resources. This act does not apply to a home school under sections 120A.22,
3.2subdivision 4, and 120A.24.
3.3 Subd. 2. Local district and school policy. (a) Districts and schools, in consultation
3.4with students, parents, and community organizations, shall adopt, implement, and annually
3.5review, and revise where appropriate, a written policy to prevent and prohibit student
3.6bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, consistent with this section. The
3.7policy must conform with sections 121A.41 to 121A.56. A district or school must adopt
3.8and implement a local policy under subdivisions 2 to 5 or comply with the provisions of
3.9the state model policy in subdivision 6.
3.10(b) Each local district and school policy must establish research-based,
3.11developmentally appropriate best practices that include preventive and remedial measures
3.12and effective discipline for deterring policy violations; apply throughout the school
3.13community; and foster active student, parent, and community participation. A district or
3.14school may request assistance from the school climate center under section 127A.052 in
3.15complying with local policy requirements. The policy shall:
3.16(1) apply to all students, school personnel, and volunteers;
3.17(2) specifically list the characteristics contained in the definition of prohibited
3.18conduct under subdivision 3, paragraph (f);
3.19(3) emphasize remedial responses over punitive measures;
3.20(4) be conspicuously posted throughout the school building;
3.21(5) be given to each school employee and independent contractor at the time of
3.22employment with the district or school;
3.23(6) be included in the student handbook on school policies; and
3.24(7) be available to all parents and other school community members in accessible
3.25languages and format on the district or school Web site.
3.26 (c) Each district and school under this subdivision must discuss its policy with
3.27students, school personnel, and volunteers and provide training for all school personnel
3.28and volunteers to prevent, identify, and appropriately respond to prohibited conduct.
3.29 (d) Each district and school under this subdivision must submit an electronic copy
3.30of its bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation policy to the commissioner
3.31for review.
3.32 Subd. 3. Definitions. (a) The terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings
3.33given them for purposes of this act.
3.34(b) "Bullying" means use of one or a series of words, images, or actions, directly or
3.35indirectly between individuals or through technology, that a reasonable person knows or
3.36should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of materially interfering with
4.1the ability of an individual, including a student who observes the conduct, to participate
4.2in a safe and supportive learning environment. Examples of bullying may include, but
4.3are not limited to, conduct that:
4.4(1) places an individual in reasonable fear of harm to person or property, including
4.5through intimidation;
4.6(2) has a detrimental effect on the physical, social, or emotional health of a student;
4.7(3) interferes with a student's educational performance or ability to participate in
4.8educational opportunities;
4.9(4) encourages the deliberate exclusion of a student from a school service, activity,
4.10or privilege;
4.11(5) creates or exacerbates a real or perceived imbalance of power between students;
4.12(6) violates the reasonable expectation of privacy of one or more individuals; or
4.13(7) relates to the actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national
4.14origin, immigration status, sex, age, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status,
4.15physical appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, academic status,
4.16disability, or status with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic
4.17defined in chapter 363A of a person or of a person with whom that person associates, but
4.18the conduct does not rise to the level of harassment.
4.19(c) "Cyberbullying" means bullying through use of technology or any electronic
4.20communication, including, but not limited to, a transfer of signs, signals, writing, images,
4.21sounds, or data, including a post on a social network Internet Web site or forum transmitted
4.22through a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device.
4.23(d) "Harassment" means intimidating or abusive behavior toward an individual based
4.24on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration
4.25status, sex, age, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status, physical appearance,
4.26sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, academic status, disability, or status
4.27with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic defined in chapter
4.28363A that creates a hostile environment by materially interfering with or denying a student
4.29or other individual the ability to participate in or receive a benefit, service, or opportunity
4.30in a district or school program. Harassing conduct is unwelcome if the person does not
4.31request or invite it and considers the conduct to be undesirable or offensive.
4.32(e) "Intimidation" means a method used to bully or harass an individual.
4.33(f) "Prohibited conduct" means bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation
4.34as defined under this subdivision, retaliation for asserting or alleging such conduct,
4.35perpetuating such conduct by transmitting or otherwise communicating hurtful or
4.36demeaning material, or engaging in speech that will materially disrupt a student's learning
5.1environment. Prohibited conduct includes discriminatory conduct based on a person's
5.2actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration
5.3status, sex, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status, physical appearance,
5.4sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, academic status, disability, or status
5.5with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic defined in chapter
5.6363A, as well as association with a person or group of persons with one or more of these
5.7actual or perceived characteristics; however, prohibited conduct need not be based on any
5.8particular characteristic defined in this paragraph or chapter 363A. Each district and
5.9school must list in their policy the characteristics identified in this paragraph.
5.10(g) "Remedial response" means a measure to stop and correct prohibited conduct,
5.11prevent prohibited conduct from recurring, and protect, support, and intervene on behalf
5.12of the student who is the target of the prohibited conduct. Districts and schools may
5.13seek the assistance of the school climate center under section 127A.052 to develop and
5.14implement remedial responses on behalf of a student who is the target of prohibited
5.15conduct, to stop and correct a student engaging in prohibited conduct, and for use with
5.16students and adults in the school community. Districts and schools need not report the
5.17use of remedial responses when their use is unrelated to any particular incident of student
5.18bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation.
5.19 Subd. 4. Local policy components. (a) Each district and school policy, in
5.20prohibiting bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation against all students and
5.21specific categories of students based on actual or perceived characteristics listed under
5.22subdivision 3, paragraph (f), must, at a minimum:
5.23(1) designate a staff member as the primary contact person in the school building to
5.24receive reports of all formal complaints, ensure the policy and its procedures including
5.25restorative practices, consequences, and sanctions are fairly and fully implemented, and
5.26serve as the primary contact on policy and procedural matters implicating both the district
5.27or school and the department;
5.28(2) require school employees and trained volunteers who witness bullying,
5.29cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation incidents or possess reliable information
5.30that would lead to a reasonable person to suspect that a student is a target of bullying,
5.31cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation to make reasonable efforts to address and
5.32resolve the prohibited conduct to the extent it does not materially disrupt the education
5.33process;
5.34(3) where prohibited conduct appears to materially disrupt the education process,
5.35provide a procedure to promptly investigate a bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or
5.36intimidation report within three school days of the report, and make the primary contact
6.1person responsible for the investigation and any resulting record and for keeping and
6.2regulating access to any record;
6.3(4) indicate how a school will respond to an identified incident of bullying,
6.4cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation, including immediately intervening to protect
6.5the target of the prohibited conduct; at the school administrator's discretion and consistent
6.6with state and federal data practices law governing access to private data, notifying the
6.7parent of the reported target of the prohibited conduct, the parent of the actor engaged in
6.8the prohibited conduct, or law enforcement officials; providing other remedial responses
6.9to the prohibited conduct; and ensuring that remedial responses are tailored to the
6.10particular incident and nature of the conduct and the student's developmental age and
6.11behavioral history;
6.12(5) prohibit reprisals or retaliation against any person who reports bullying,
6.13cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation and establish appropriate consequences for a
6.14person who engages in reprisal or retaliation;
6.15(6) allow anonymous reporting but do not rely solely on an anonymous report to
6.16determine discipline;
6.17(7) provide information about available community resources to the target, actor,
6.18and other affected individuals, as appropriate;
6.19(8) where appropriate for a child with a disability to prevent or respond to prohibited
6.20conduct, require the child's individualized education program or section 504 plan to
6.21address the skills and proficiencies the child needs to respond to or not engage in
6.22prohibited conduct;
6.23(9) use new employee training materials, the school publication on school rules,
6.24procedures, and standards of conduct, and the student handbook on school policies
6.25to publicize the policy;
6.26(10) require annual reporting, collection, and analysis of summary data on incidents
6.27of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation and on remedial responses both
6.28to individuals and throughout the school; and
6.29(11) require ongoing professional development, consistent with section 122A.60,
6.30to build the skills of all school personnel and volunteers, including, but not limited to,
6.31educators, administrators, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, athletic
6.32coaches, extracurricular activities advisors, volunteers, and paraprofessionals to identify,
6.33prevent, and appropriately address bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation.
6.34(b) Professional development under a local policy includes, but is not limited to,
6.35information about:
7.1(1) developmentally appropriate strategies both to prevent and to immediately and
7.2effectively intervene to stop bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation;
7.3(2) the complex dynamics affecting an actor, target, and witnesses to bullying,
7.4cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation;
7.5(3) research on bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, including
7.6specific categories of students at risk for bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and
7.7intimidation in school;
7.8(4) the incidence and nature of cyberbullying; and
7.9(5) Internet safety and cyberbullying.
7.10 Subd. 5. Safe and supportive schools programming. (a) Districts and schools
7.11are encouraged to provide developmentally appropriate programmatic instruction to
7.12help students identify, prevent, and reduce bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and
7.13intimidation; value diversity in school and society; develop and improve students'
7.14knowledge and skills for solving problems, managing conflict, engaging in civil discourse,
7.15and recognizing, responding to, and reporting prohibited conduct; and make effective
7.16prevention and intervention programs available to students, school personnel, and parents.
7.17Upon request, the school climate center under section 127A.052 must assist a district
7.18or school in helping students understand social media and cyberbullying. Districts
7.19and schools must establish strategies for creating a positive school climate and use
7.20evidence-based social-emotional learning to prevent and reduce discrimination and other
7.21prohibited conduct.
7.22(b) Districts and schools are encouraged to:
7.23(1) engage all students in creating a safe and supportive school environment;
7.24(2) partner with parents and other community members to develop and implement
7.25prevention and intervention programs;
7.26(3) engage all students and adults in integrating education, intervention, and other
7.27remedial responses into the school environment;
7.28(4) train student bystanders to intervene in and report incidents of prohibited conduct
7.29to the school's primary contact person;
7.30(5) teach students to advocate for themselves and others;
7.31(6) prevent inappropriate referrals to special education of students who may engage
7.32in prohibited conduct; and
7.33(7) foster student collaborations that support a healthy and safe school climate.
7.34 Subd. 6. State model policy. (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the
7.35commissioner of human rights, shall develop and maintain a state model policy. A district
7.36or school that does not adopt and implement a local policy under subdivisions 2 to 5
8.1must implement and may supplement the provisions of the state model policy. The
8.2commissioner must assist districts and schools under this subdivision to implement the
8.3state policy. The state model policy must:
8.4(1) define bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, consistent with
8.5this section;
8.6(2) apply the bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation policy
8.7components in this section;
8.8(3) for a child with a disability, whenever an evaluation by an individualized
8.9education program team or a section 504 team indicates that the child's disability affects
8.10the child's social skills development or the child is vulnerable to bullying, cyberbullying,
8.11harassment, or intimidation because of the child's disability, the child's individualized
8.12education program or section 504 plan must address the skills and proficiencies the child
8.13needs to avoid and respond to such conduct; and
8.14(4) encourage violence prevention and character development education programs
8.15under section 120B.232, subdivision 1.
8.16(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this section.
8.17(c) The commissioner shall develop and post departmental procedures for:
8.18(1) periodically reviewing district and school programs and policies for compliance
8.19with this section;
8.20(2) investigating, reporting, and responding to noncompliance with this section,
8.21which may include an annual review of plans to improve and provide a safe and supportive
8.22school climate;
8.23(3) allowing students, parents, and educators to file a complaint about noncompliance
8.24with the commissioner; and
8.25(4) annually publishing statewide summary data on incidents of bullying,
8.26cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, consistent with section 120B.36, subdivision
8.271.
8.28 (d) Department records under this subdivision are private data on individuals. An
8.29individual subject of the data shall have access to the data except that the name of a
8.30reporter is confidential.
8.31 (e) The commissioner must post on the department's Web site information indicating
8.32that when districts and schools allow noncurriculum-related student groups access to
8.33school facilities, the district or school must give all student groups equal access to the
8.34school facilities regardless of the content of the group members' speech.
8.35 Subd. 7. Relation to existing law. This section does not:
8.36(1) establish any private right of action;
9.1(2) limit rights currently available to an individual under other civil or criminal law,
9.2including, but not limited to, chapter 363A; or
9.3(3) interfere with a person's rights of free speech and expression under the First
9.4Amendment of the Unites States Constitution.
9.5EFFECTIVE DATE.Subdivision 6, paragraph (b), is effective the day following
9.6final enactment; the remainder of this section applies beginning July 1, 2014.
9.7 Sec. 4. [121A.0315] SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL GRANTS.
9.8 Subdivision 1. Grant program established. The commissioner of education, after
9.9consulting with the commissioners of human rights, human services, and health, shall
9.10establish a safe and supportive schools grant program to enable a school district or school
9.11to implement the requirements in section 121A.031 and foster academic achievement.
9.12All districts and schools participating under section 121A.031 are eligible to apply for a
9.13grant under this section.
9.14 Subd. 2. Grant application. To be eligible to receive a grant, a district or school
9.15must submit an application to the commissioner in the form and manner and according
9.16to the timeline established by the commissioner. The application must describe how
9.17the applicant will create and maintain a safe and supportive school environment and
9.18foster academic achievement given the characteristics and circumstances of its students,
9.19their families, and the school community. The commissioner may require additional
9.20information from the applicant. When reviewing the applications, the commissioner
9.21must determine whether the applicant met the requirements of this section and is able to
9.22meet the requirements of section 121A.031.
9.23 Subd. 3. Grant awards. The commissioner may award grants to eligible applicants
9.24for creating and maintaining a safe and supportive school environment and fostering
9.25academic achievement. Grant amounts may not exceed $....... per resident pupil unit in the
9.26district or school in the prior school year. Grant recipients should be located throughout
9.27the state.
9.28 Subd. 4. Grant proceeds. A grant recipient must use grant funds to create and
9.29maintain a safe and supportive school environment and foster academic achievement
9.30according to the terms of its grant application.
9.31EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for fiscal year 2014 and later.
9.32 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 121A.55, is amended to read:
9.33121A.55 POLICIES TO BE ESTABLISHED.
10.1(a) The commissioner of education shall promulgate guidelines to assist each school
10.2board
10.3written policies and rules to effectuate
10.5problems and
10.6recurring. The policies shall recognize the continuing responsibility of the school
10.7
10.8services, if the pupil wishes to take advantage of them, must be adequate to allow the
10.9pupil to make progress towards meeting the graduation standards adopted under section
10.11(b) An area learning center under section
10.12excluded pupil from enrolling solely because a district expelled or excluded the pupil. The
10.13board of the area learning center may use the provisions of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act to
10.14exclude a pupil or to require an admission plan.
10.15(c) Each school district shall develop a policy and report it to the commissioner on
10.16the appropriate use of peace officers and crisis teams to remove students who have an
10.17individualized education program from school grounds.
10.18EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
10.19 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 121A.69, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
10.20 Subd. 3. School board policy. Each school board shall adopt a written policy
10.21governing student or staff hazing. The policy must apply to student behavior that occurs
10.22on or off school property and during and after school hours and be consistent with section
10.23121A.031. The policy must include reporting procedures and disciplinary consequences
10.24for violating the policy. Disciplinary consequences must be sufficiently severe to deter
10.25violations and appropriately discipline prohibited behavior. Disciplinary consequences
10.26must conform with sections 121A.031 and
10.27the policy in the student handbook on school policies.
10.28EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
10.29 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.60, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
10.30 Subd. 1a. Effective staff development activities. (a) Staff development activities
10.31must:
10.32(1) focus on the school classroom and research-based strategies that improve student
10.33learning;
11.1(2) provide opportunities for teachers to practice and improve their instructional
11.2skills over time;
11.3(3) provide opportunities for teachers to use student data as part of their daily work
11.4to increase student achievement;
11.5(4) enhance teacher content knowledge and instructional skills, including to
11.6accommodate the delivery of digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage
11.7students with technology;
11.8(5) align with state and local academic standards;
11.9(6) provide opportunities to build professional relationships, foster collaboration
11.10among principals and staff who provide instruction, and provide opportunities for
11.11teacher-to-teacher mentoring; and
11.12(7) align with the plan of the district or site for an alternative teacher professional
11.13pay system.
11.14Staff development activities may include curriculum development and curriculum training
11.15programs, and activities that provide teachers and other members of site-based teams
11.16training to enhance team performance. The school district also may implement other
11.17staff development activities required by law and activities associated with professional
11.18teacher compensation models.
11.19(b) Release time provided for teachers to supervise students on field trips and school
11.20activities, or independent tasks not associated with enhancing the teacher's knowledge
11.21and instructional skills, such as preparing report cards, calculating grades, or organizing
11.22classroom materials, may not be counted as staff development time that is financed with
11.23staff development reserved revenue under section
11.24(c) Staff development activities also may include training for school counselors,
11.25social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals to support students,
11.26teachers, and school administrators in implementing restorative and reparative best
11.27practices to prevent and appropriately address student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment,
11.28and intimidation, consistent with section 121A.031, subdivision 4, paragraph (b).
11.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and
11.30later.
11.31 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.60, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
11.32 Subd. 3. Staff development outcomes. The advisory staff development committee
11.33must adopt a staff development plan for improving student achievement. The plan must
11.34be consistent with education outcomes that the school board determines. The plan
12.1must include ongoing staff development activities that contribute toward continuous
12.2improvement in achievement of the following goals:
12.3(1) improve student achievement of state and local education standards in all areas
12.4of the curriculum by using best practices methods;
12.5(2) effectively meet the needs of a diverse student population, including at-risk
12.6children, children with disabilities, and gifted children, within the regular classroom
12.7and other settings;
12.8(3) provide an inclusive curriculum for a racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse
12.9student population that is consistent with the state education diversity rule and the district's
12.10education diversity plan;
12.11(4) improve staff collaboration and develop mentoring and peer coaching programs
12.12for teachers new to the school or district;
12.13(5) effectively teach and model violence prevention policy and curriculum that
12.14address early intervention alternatives,
12.15staff and school volunteers who regularly interact with students in best practices to
12.16create and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment, consistent with section
12.17121A.031, and teach nonviolent alternatives for conflict resolution, including restorative
12.18and reparative processes;
12.19(6) effectively deliver digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage
12.20students with technology; and
12.21(7) provide teachers and other members of site-based management teams with
12.22appropriate management and financial management skills.
12.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and
12.24later.
12.25 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.10, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
12.26 Subd. 8. Federal, state, and local requirements. (a) A charter school shall meet all
12.27federal, state, and local health and safety requirements applicable to school districts.
12.28 (b) A school must comply with statewide accountability requirements governing
12.29standards and assessments in chapter 120B.
12.30 (c) A school authorized by a school board may be located in any district, unless the
12.31school board of the district of the proposed location disapproves by written resolution.
12.32 (d) A charter school must be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies,
12.33employment practices, and all other operations. An authorizer may not authorize a charter
12.34school or program that is affiliated with a nonpublic sectarian school or a religious
13.1institution. A charter school student must be released for religious instruction, consistent
13.2with section
13.3 (e) Charter schools must not be used as a method of providing education or
13.4generating revenue for students who are being home-schooled. This paragraph does not
13.5apply to shared time aid under section
13.6 (f) The primary focus of a charter school must be to provide a comprehensive
13.7program of instruction for at least one grade or age group from five through 18 years
13.8of age. Instruction may be provided to people younger than five years and older than
13.918 years of age.
13.10 (g) A charter school may not charge tuition.
13.11 (h) A charter school is subject to and must comply with chapter 363A and section
13.13 (i) A charter school is subject to and must comply with the Pupil Fair Dismissal
13.14Act, sections
13.16 (j) A charter school is subject to the same financial audits, audit procedures, and
13.17audit requirements as a district. Audits must be conducted in compliance with generally
13.18accepted governmental auditing standards, the federal Single Audit Act, if applicable,
13.19and section
13.22except to the extent deviations are necessary because of the program at the school.
13.23Deviations must be approved by the commissioner and authorizer. The Department of
13.24Education, state auditor, legislative auditor, or authorizer may conduct financial, program,
13.25or compliance audits. A charter school determined to be in statutory operating debt under
13.26sections
13.27 (k) A charter school is a district for the purposes of tort liability under chapter 466.
13.28 (l) A charter school must comply with chapters 13 and 13D; and sections
13.29subdivision 7
13.30 (m) A charter school is subject to the Pledge of Allegiance requirement under
13.31section
13.32 (n) A charter school offering online courses or programs must comply with section
13.34 (o) A charter school and charter school board of directors are subject to chapter 181.
14.1 (p) A charter school must comply with section
14.2the transfer of students' educational records and sections
14.3the management of local records.
14.4 (q) A charter school that provides early childhood health and developmental
14.5screening must comply with sections
14.6(r) A charter school that provides school-sponsored youth athletic activities must
14.7comply with section 121A.38.
14.8(s) A charter school must comply with section 121A.031 governing policies on
14.9student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation.
14.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
14.11 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.895, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
14.12 Subdivision 1. Program goals. The department, in consultation with the state
14.13curriculum advisory committee, must develop guidelines and model plans for parental
14.14involvement programs that will:
14.15(1) engage the interests and talents of parents or guardians in recognizing and
14.16meeting the emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of their school-age children;
14.17(2) promote healthy self-concepts among parents or guardians and other family
14.18members;
14.19(3) offer parents or guardians a chance to share and learn about educational skills,
14.20techniques, and ideas;
14.21(4) provide creative learning experiences for parents or guardians and their
14.22school-age children, including involvement from parents or guardians of color;
14.23(5) encourage parents to actively participate in their district's curriculum advisory
14.24committee under section
14.25children's education programs;
14.26(6) encourage parents to help in promoting school desegregation/integration; and
14.27(7) partner with parents in establishing a positive school climate by developing and
14.28implementing prevention and intervention programs on student bullying, cyberbullying,
14.29harassment, and intimidation under section 121A.031.
14.30EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
14.31 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.8955, is amended to read:
14.32124D.8955 PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT POLICY.
15.1 (a) In order to promote and support student achievement, a local school board is
15.2encouraged to formally adopt and implement a parent and family involvement policy that
15.3promotes and supports:
15.4 (1) communication between home and school that is regular, two-way, and
15.5meaningful;
15.6 (2) parenting skills;
15.7 (3) parents and caregivers who play an integral role in assisting student learning and
15.8learn about fostering students' academic success and learning at home and school;
15.9 (4) welcoming parents in the school and seeking their support and assistance;
15.10 (5) partnerships with parents in the decisions that affect children and families
15.11in the schools; and
15.12 (6) providing community resources to strengthen schools, families, and student
15.13learning, including establishing a positive school climate by developing and implementing
15.14prevention and intervention programs on student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment,
15.15and intimidation under section 121A.031.
15.16 (b) A school board that implements a parent and family involvement policy under
15.17paragraph (a) must convene an advisory committee composed of an equal number of
15.18resident parents who are not district employees and school staff to make recommendations
15.19to the board on developing and evaluating the board's parent and family involvement
15.20policy. If possible, the advisory committee must represent the diversity of the district. The
15.21advisory committee must consider the district's demographic diversity and barriers to
15.22parent involvement when developing its recommendations. The advisory committee must
15.23recommend to the school board and district or school how programs serving children and
15.24adolescents can collaborate on:
15.25(1) understanding normal child and adolescent development;
15.26(2) encouraging healthy communication between parents and children;
15.27(3) managing students' behavior through positive reinforcement;
15.28(4) establishing expectations for student behavior;
15.29(5) providing media and Internet guidance, limits, and supervision; and
15.30(6) promoting resilience and reducing risks for children.
15.31The advisory committee must present its recommendations to the board for board
15.32consideration.
15.33 (c) The board must consider best practices when implementing this policy.
15.34 (d) The board periodically must review this policy to determine whether it is aligned
15.35with the most current research findings on parent involvement policies and practices and
15.36how effective the policy is in supporting increased student achievement.
16.1 (e) Nothing in this section obligates a school district to exceed any parent or family
16.2involvement requirement under federal law.
16.3EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
16.4 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 125B.15, is amended to read:
16.5125B.15 INTERNET ACCESS FOR STUDENTS.
16.6 (a) Recognizing the difference between school libraries, school computer labs, and
16.7school media centers, which serve unique educational purposes, and public libraries,
16.8which are designed for public inquiry, all computers at a school site with access to the
16.9Internet available for student use must be equipped to restrict, including by use of
16.10available software filtering technology or other effective methods, all student access
16.11to material that is reasonably believed to be obscene or child pornography or material
16.12harmful to minors under federal or state law.
16.13 (b) A school site is not required to purchase filtering technology if the school site
16.14would incur more than incidental expense in making the purchase.
16.15 (c) A school district receiving technology revenue under section
16.16prohibit, including through use of available software filtering technology or other effective
16.17methods, adult access to material that under federal or state law is reasonably believed to
16.18be obscene or child pornography.
16.19 (d) A school district, its agents or employees, are immune from liability for failure
16.20to comply with this section if they have made a good faith effort to comply with the
16.21requirements of this section.
16.22 (e) "School site" means an education site as defined in section
16.231
16.24 (f) All school sites having computers with Internet access must adopt and implement
16.25a policy to prohibit cyberbullying, consistent with section 121A.031.
16.26EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and
16.27later.
16.28 Sec. 13. [127A.051] SCHOOL CLIMATE COUNCIL.
16.29 Subdivision 1. Establishment and membership. (a) A multiagency leadership
16.30council is established to improve school climate and school safety so that all Minnesota
16.31students in prekindergarten through grade 12 schools and higher education institutions
16.32are provided with safe and welcoming learning environments in order to maximize each
16.33student's learning potential.
17.1(b) The council shall consist of:
17.2(1) the commissioners or their designees from the Departments of Education,
17.3Health, Human Rights, Human Services, Public Safety, and Corrections, and the Office of
17.4Higher Education;
17.5(2) one representative each from the Board of Teaching, Board of School
17.6Administrators, Minnesota School Boards Association, Elementary School Principals
17.7Association, Association of Secondary School Principals, and Education Minnesota as
17.8selected by each organization;
17.9(3) two representatives each of student support personnel, parents, and students as
17.10selected by the commissioner of education;
17.11(4) two representatives of local law enforcement as selected by the commissioner of
17.12public safety; and
17.13(5) two representatives of the judicial branch as selected by the chief justice of
17.14the Supreme Court.
17.15 Subd. 2. Duties. The council must provide leadership for the following activities:
17.16(1) establishment of norms and standards for prevention, intervention, and support
17.17around issues of bullying, harassment, and intimidation;
17.18(2) advancement of evidence-based policy and best practices to improve school
17.19climate and promote school safety; and
17.20(3) development and dissemination of resources and training for schools and
17.21communities about issues of bullying, harassment, and intimidation and other school
17.22safety-related issues.
17.23 Sec. 14. [127A.052] SCHOOL CLIMATE CENTER.
17.24(a) The commissioner shall establish a school climate center at the department to
17.25help districts and schools under section 121A.031 provide a safe and supportive learning
17.26environment and foster academic achievement for all students by focusing on prevention,
17.27intervention, support, and recovery. The center must work collaboratively with implicated
17.28state agencies identified by the center and schools, communities, and interested individuals
17.29and organizations to determine how to best use available resources.
17.30(b) The center's services shall include:
17.31(1) evidence-based policy review, development, and dissemination;
17.32(2) single, point-of-contact services for schools, parents, and students seeking
17.33information or other help;
18.1(3) qualitative and quantitative data gathering, interpretation, and dissemination of
18.2summary data for existing reporting systems and student surveys and the identification
18.3and pursuit of emerging trends and issues;
18.4(4) assistance to districts and schools in using Minnesota student survey results to
18.5inform intervention and prevention programs;
18.6(5) education and skill building;
18.7(6) multisector and multiagency planning and advisory activities incorporating
18.8best practices and research; and
18.9(7) administrative and financial support for school site-based planning, school sites
18.10recovering from incidents of violence, and violence prevention education.
18.11(c) The center shall:
18.12(1) compile and make available to all districts and schools evidence-based elements
18.13and resources to develop and maintain safe and supportive schools;
18.14(2) establish and maintain a central repository for collecting and analyzing
18.15information about bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, including, but
18.16not limited to:
18.17(i) training materials on strategies and techniques to prevent and appropriately
18.18address prohibited conduct;
18.19(ii) model programming;
18.20(iii) remedial responses consistent with section 121A.031, subdivision 3, paragraph
18.21(g); and
18.22(iv) other resources for improving the school climate and preventing bullying,
18.23cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation;
18.24(3) assist districts and schools to develop strategies and techniques for effectively
18.25communicating with and engaging parents in efforts to protect students from bullying,
18.26cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation by other students and adults; and
18.27(4) solicit input from social media experts on implementing this section.
18.28(d) The commissioner shall provide administrative services including personnel,
18.29budget, payroll and contract services, and staff support for center activities including
18.30developing and disseminating materials, providing seminars, and developing and
18.31maintaining a Web site. Center staff shall include a center director, a data analyst
18.32coordinator, and trainers who provide training to affected state and local organizations
18.33under a fee-for-service agreement. The financial, administrative, and staff support the
18.34commissioner provides under this section must be based on an annual budget and work
18.35program developed by the center and submitted to the commissioner by the center director.
18.36EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective beginning July 1, 2013.
19.1 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 127A.42, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
19.2 Subd. 2. Violations of law. The commissioner may reduce or withhold the district's
19.3state aid for any school year whenever the board of the district authorizes or permits
19.4violations of law within the district by:
19.5(1) employing a teacher who does not hold a valid teaching license or permit in a
19.6public school;
19.7(2) noncompliance with a mandatory rule of general application promulgated by the
19.8commissioner in accordance with statute, unless special circumstances make enforcement
19.9inequitable, impose an extraordinary hardship on the district, or the rule is contrary to
19.10the district's best interests;
19.11(3) the district's continued performance of a contract made for the rental of rooms
19.12or buildings for school purposes or for the rental of any facility owned or operated by or
19.13under the direction of any private organization, if the contract has been disapproved, the
19.14time for review of the determination of disapproval has expired, and no proceeding for
19.15review is pending;
19.16(4) any practice which is a violation of sections 1 and 2 of article 13 of the
19.17Constitution of the state of Minnesota;
19.18(5) failure to reasonably provide for a resident pupil's school attendance under
19.19Minnesota Statutes;
19.20(6) noncompliance with state laws prohibiting discrimination because of race,
19.21color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to
19.22public assistance
19.23subdivision 10
19.24and intimidation under section 121A.031; or
19.25(7) using funds contrary to the statutory purpose of the funds.
19.26The reduction or withholding must be made in the amount and upon the procedure
19.27provided in this section, or, in the case of the violation stated in clause (1), upon the
19.28procedure provided in section
19.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
19.30 Sec. 16. APPROPRIATIONS.
19.31(a) $....... in fiscal year 2014 and $....... in fiscal year 2015 are appropriated from
19.32the general fund to the commissioner of education for the school climate center under
19.33Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.052.
20.1(b) $....... in fiscal year 2014 and $....... in fiscal year 2015 are appropriated from
20.2the general fund to the commissioner of education for grants to districts and schools to
20.3provide safe and supportive learning environments and foster academic achievement for
20.4all students under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.0315.
20.5EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2013.
20.6 Sec. 17. REPEALER.
20.7Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 121A.03; and 121A.0695, are repealed effective
20.8July 1, 2014.
